2 replies so far

I usually drill holes before truing and shaping the blank. Do you have a scroll chuck to hold the wood while you drill it? If not, you can mount your drill chuck in the headstock and drill that way. It’s much harder. You’ll have to drill a small starter hole off the lathe to get started, then mount your drill chuck and drill the rest holding the blank in your hand. You can bring up the tailstock to help you visually keep it straight and level.

I simply mounted a drill chuck with a drill in it in the tapered head stock of the lather and a live center, just like if I was mounting a piece between a spur center and the live center, then I then HELD the workpiece in my left hand and advanced the tailstock until I had enough depth.

My method of holding the work to be drilled probably violates many rules esp not touching a piece of wood mounted while the motor is on.